Miss Universe Canada claims she was denied a flight attendant position by Emirates after revealing that she once struggled with an eating disorder.
Was Emirates Right To Rescind Flight Attendant Job Offer To Miss Universe Canada?
25-year-old Madison Kvaltin posted a three-minute video on TikTok describing her ordeal, which, in short, is:
- She was hired by Emirates as a flight attendant and even sent airline tickets for her move to Dubai
- A final step in the onboarding package was a health questionnaire that asked if she had ever struggled with an eating disorder
- She truthfully admitted that she had struggled with an eating disorder in her youth
- Days later, she received an email from Emirates rescinding her job offer because she “didn’t meet the precondition requirements”
- She now concludes she was denied on the basis of her prior eating disorder, since no new information was revealed other than that
@madisonkvetlana Imagine being denied a job because you struggled with an eating disorder? Especially in a job that has NOTHING to do with it, or has any effect (especially since Im certifiably recovered and well from my past).
Let’s not kid ourselves: in terms of what Emirates seems to target in cabin crew hires, she has the face and figure for the job and she’s quite articulate. If we take her at her word that she already had a job offer and tickets to Dubai, I do not think it is speculative to reason that she was denied after her eating disorder disclosure for her eating disorder.
And while the United Arab Emirates does not offer the same legal protections as in Western democracies, this issue really goes beyond the legal issue to a moral and practical one.
Understanding Anorexia
Like alcoholism, there is no medication to beat anorexia. Even so, therapy and dietician-based regimens are fundamental to successful recovery. And many do recover! The difference though is that a large majority of those who suffer from this are adolescents, unlike alcoholism which afflicts mostly adults (and since the pandemic, anorexia rates among teens have doubled). This is often a youth problem that people grow out of.
In our social media world of air-brushed and AI models, eating disorders are a huge and growing problem as such unrealistic expectations are placed on both boys and girls concerning what the ideal physique looks like.
But anorexia is treatable and many, including several that I know, have gone on to live great and fruitful lives with no long-term issues. The vast majority do recover, particularly on a long-term basis. Assuming Miss Universe Canada had it as a teen or early in college, she is in good company.
Society needs to understand this illness better. Especially now. Many bright and experienced girls and boys are entering college or the workforce this autumn, many of whom struggled with eating disorders during the pandemic and most have recovered with proper care. If companies are going to start redlining them, those left are those that hide it, never got help, and are bombs ready to explode.
Sadly, it seems that it is beneficial to withhold information on job applications, though Kvaltin’s platform has been to raise awareness over mental issues and therefore hiding it was not tenable in her case.
Emirates Missed Out. But So Did Kvaltin.
One Mile A Time reasons she “probably dodged a bullet here by not getting a job at a Middle Eastern carrier,” but I disagree. Indeed, living in Dubai in a compound with other Emirates employees does not strike me as sexy either, but I do not necessarily think she is better off and certainly do not think Emirates is better off.
I think she would have shined as a brand ambassador for Emirates and would have had the time of her life flying around the world with such an eclectic mix of men and women from around the world. That was the original premise of being a flight attendant: a season of life, not a career. Part of me wishes I had done something like that (though more for the flight benefits…). Emirates also missed the opportunity to hire an intelligent and attractive person.
But even if she is better off, just moving on breeds blind compliance and acceptance of a bad policy…and ignorance. If we all just say, “Oh well, you know, Emirates and their crazy rules” we simply compound the problem. Emirates is a global airline serving many cultures and hiring personnel from around the world. I do not think overcoming hardship renders someone ineligible for a job. Quite the contrary, I think it shows the strength and determination that characterizes great employees.
Relapse By Rejection
Finally, a note on relapse.
One of the dangers of this disease is the stigma hung on these girls. The stigma is misplaced and rooted in ignorance. Too many lump anorexia or bulimia into the same category as schizophrenia or suicidal tendencies. Speaking to my fellow male compatriots, the majority of the stigma originates from men. Studies show that the stigma then becomes a hurdle for many girls (and some boys), often causing relapses because of the trauma of rejection, even when recovered. It is a vicious cycle…and also a needless one (sort of like the problem of pilots and alcoholism – thank goodness for the HIMS program).
Check out the NIH study for more.
CONCLUSION
Miss Universe Canada, Madison Kvaltin, claims she was denied a flight attendant position at Emirates for revealing a past eating disorder. While I am not questioning the legal right of Emirates to deny her employment, I find the actions of Emirates quite regrettable. The toxic ignorance of concluding a past eating disorder suggests a lack of mental fitness for a cabin crew position is insanity.
image: @madisonkvaltin / Instagram
Perhaps the cause was not the disclosure of a previous “eating disorder” , but her unusual “earring” . Am I alone in never before having observed such a strange “earring” ? Surely it must be difficult to put on an oxygen mask with such an “earring” .
My first thought was along those lines as well. She probably sets off the metal detectors before every flight. Look, you do you….but things like this impress me as being a sign of poor judgment.
Yea she definitely wears that glamour shot earing around all the time. You idiots.
Thank you, Mr. Klint. As a father of a teen daughter now recovered from Anorexia, and who is thriving as a beautiful and intelligent young woman, this means more than you know. Not only to bring awareness of this woman’s story, but in helping people understand that recoveries are more and more successful. The disease is far from some life ending ability to function. In fact, I would say that many of these girls come out of it with a higher level of empathy and respect for others in adulthood (something greatly needed today).
I read the post that OMAAT made and, while respectful, I agree that he could have alleviated the part of her “being grateful she dodged a bullet.” We can not allow the world to look at a past eating disorder (note the word past) as a stigma to hang on these young and talented girls and women. Education is the key, and you have done a fantastic job in presenting the actual facts and hopeful outcome that most girls (and some boys) experience.
Both of the NIH reports you linked are well circulated around the world of Eating Disorders and widely respected. They offer people a chance to understand it better. And yes, you point out men, it is widely known that men are the greatest reason for stigma. Their stigma often being the worst long term battle they face long after they recover. Given that eating disorders primarily affect women it would make sense that what doesn’t affect them directly is not in their care of understanding, thus cast in some dark place in their minds as being hopeless. Or perhaps they just don’t care, and it’s easier to make assumptions.
The comments at OMAAT were the most disturbing and telling as to the male hung stigma of Anorexia. One really stuck with me, and I found disgusting and misguided, so much so it kept me up half the night. It was the comment made that, “Why should Emirates ever want her….it’s like a quadraplagic applying for a shoe commercial.” This is what these girls face, Ignorance, misinformation, and a cloud hung over them for life after successfully beating back a disorder that has made amazing processes in treatments. And for absolutely no reason that is practical, scientific, medical, or otherwise. As a matter of fact, many men would be shocked at how many successful women, some they might even respect or work with, have suffered an eating disorder during their life.
Your comparison to alcoholism is a good one. Obviously a different thing entirely but it is useful in helping people understand the complexities yet ability to treat. I use it a lot to help friends understand what my daughter went through. Alcoholics are addicted to drinking for the feeling, becoming dependent. Those with Anorexia become addicted to not eating for the body image, becoming dependent as well. Like you said, there is no medication, just treatments, which are excellent and advancing more and more each year.
Do some girls die? Sadly, yes. Do some exhibit other psychiatric issues compounding on an eating disorder, of course. Do some relapse? Yes, quite a few actually, but mostly in the 6-12 months following the first. The reality is that, as you said, most make it through this awful disease and later become fantastic adults. Like the woman who Emirates would have been so lucky to have serving their customers.
Two key questions:
1.) Was the job offer conditional on passing all screening? As someone who has worked for airlines, I’ve had job offers (even salaried management) with the offer contingent on passing DOT drug screen, medical evaluation, etc.
2.) The questionnaire: How specific were the questions? Did it read “Have you ever had….” and eating disorder as an option? Or was this a more standard “Have you ever been diagnosed with a mental illness?” or similar phrasing with a “If yes, explain…” Other sources have mentioned it was more the generic and she answered with truthful details.
The specific question reads “Have you ever had any eating disorders eg. anorexia or bulimia.” and a space to provide “Details of any findings”.
My understanding is that the UAE GCAA makes it a disqualifying factor for any aircrew (pilot or cabin crew) if you have ever received inpatient treatment for a psychiatric diagnosis, unless a special waiver is otherwise obtained. In this case, that would have been the justification for denial of employment, assuming the information she provided indicated (as her videos do) that she was indeed hospitalised for her past eating disorders.
@Sean: Thank you. That makes more sense. Not dissimilar to the FAA with some very common prescription anti-anxiety/depressants being disqualifiers.
So a few points as to this. First, the term hospitalization may be confused as to a recovery center. This is not a hospital and no doctors or nurses are typically on staff, just therapists and dieticians. Most go to these recovery centers, including in the case of my daughter. However, with that said, recovery centers will only accept you IF your vitals and weight are within certain parameters. As such, also like my daughter, she had to enter a medical hospital (not a psychaitric hospital) so that she could have nutrients and weight restored over a 10 day period. This was not to treat the anorexia, but rather to just treat the physical aspects so as to be able to enter the recovery center. Finally, as to this, the only reason she had to go to the hospital is that Anorexia cases were so off the charts during Covid that it was taking 2-3 months to wait for a bed. If she had been able to go earlier when diagnosed she never would have been “hospitalized.” We waited from October until February for a bed to open anywhere in the U.S. at over 30 recovery centers.
Few end up at psychiatric hospitals unless very severe and it seems all options have been exhausted. This is the last attempt for families who have worked through all other possibilities. While awful, it affects a very small percentage. Most thrive and come out well from recovery centers…the treatments are so good in fact now that many are becoming out-patient.
My guess is that Miss Canada’s story is similar. I would be willing to bet that she was not hospitalized in the classic sense, or in a psychiatric hospital, but rather in a recovery center. If in a medical hospital it was simply to restore her physical condition to allow for a recovery center. With that, she should have been allowed to properly explain and educate Emirates on treatment regiments for Anorexia and that they do NOT fit a blanket questionnaire.
With all due respect to your daughter’s condition and circumstances, we don’t know what exactly this person’s situation was. Emirates health services are extremely familiar with eating disorders – they need to be considering they are responsible for a staff that includes nearly 60,000 women who are primarily between the age of 20-40.
In the case of the circumstances I cited, it would not be a discretionary decision by Emirates but rather a mandatory exclusion dictated by the regulator. Regulators and insurers are becoming more and more cautious about airlines hiring crew with a past history of mental health diagnosis. An existing employee with a solid track record might be given the option to seek a waiver, but a new employee is simply not going to qualify for one.
With all due respect, your comment that Emirates knows all about eating disorders because they serve many meals on planes may rank as the singular stupidest thing I’ve ever heard anyone say regarding ED. And I’ve heard some doozies. Given the reaction of their rescinding a job offer to a woman who had an eating disorder when “she was a young girl” tells me they know absolutely nothing. Clearly, neither do you.
@Antwerp – that is not what I said at all. I said that Emirates medical services deal extensively with eating disorders among their 60000+ staff that include a significant number of the highest risk demographic (young females). I know that they do offer support for this diagnosis (a friend of mine went through this while employed there), but on an outpatient basis.
Also, assuming the set of facts is as described, it isn’t at Emirates’ discretion to rescind any job offers. The person would be statutorily disqualified from performing that job by the regulator as a result of their medical history. You may think that it is unfair and you may be right, but the GCAA is who you should be criticising rather than the airline who simply has to follow those policies.
I was hospitalized for 4 months within the paediatric unit in northern Ontario. At the time there was no eating disorder clinic, treatment program or facility to treat eating disorders. So yes I was hospitalized in the traditional sense.
Thanks for clarifying Madison. I’m sorry it didn’t work out for you with Emirates because of this, but I’m sure you will have plenty of other opportunities ahead of you and I sincerely wish you the best as you pursue them.
That makes sense! When your in the air you may come across some extreme and intense situations. There was ABSOLUTELY no crossing boundaries of any sorts. She sounds like a real whinner and should understand…I guess beauty doesn’t get you everything!!
“ while the United Arab Emirates does not offer the same legal protections as in Western democracies, this issue really goes beyond the legal issue to a moral and practical one”
I don’t agree. The UAE is a sovereign country, and to expect it to observe western values or legal protections would be an error. If you don’t like it (and I don’t), the only response is to avoid it. Not complain that they are not like the west.
I don’t find basic human rights to be something that should be overlooked just because it is the choice of another country. One would think that basic human rights are just that, and universal.
Anorexia is awful decease, no doubt about that.
Your Western “basic human rights” is not Middle Eastern, Eastern Europe nor Asian ones.
Who is Western society to tell every other societies/countries/religions how they should live and under what rights?
Bringing “democracy” to Irak, Libya, Syria and Afghanistan is not enough?
Emirates is a independend company and have whatever right to make own rules for personnel hiring. ME3 airlines have by far the best crews, carefully selected from all over the world and commited to follow the laws of the countries they are based. There are only two geniuses in the airline industry, Sir Timothy Clark and HE Akbar Al Baker. All the rest are just common crowd.
You sound like a Southern plantation owner in the American south in the mid 19th century. Sorry, human rights are not subject to a nation’s laws as being acceptable. Human rights are basic. And those rights are dictated not by governments or any Western powers. For some they are dictated by God. For others they are dictated by common decency and educated beliefs.The premise being the same I that every human being has a right to dignity and opportunity.
I hope you enjoy your next caviar on Emirates as you ponder this. Like a true slave owner sitting on his front porch and rationalizing his greatness over a nice cool lemonade.
This doesn’t have anything to do with human rights. She had a job offer rescinded. There’s no human right to a job in another country.
Hey genius, last time I checked, not being discriminated against for a past illness is a basic human right. Whether it’s honored or not is another story.
It is commendable to wish that, but not only is that manifestly not the case in fact – which is evident in that people who write such things do not go to places like China and the UAE to demand they change – but some will even disagree on what those rights should be.
non discriminatory hiring practices are not the kinds of things i’m interested in. Let Canada weigh in.
I’m sorry she didn’t get the job, but I hope this woman gets the help she needs to overcome her psychiatric condition.
She’s recovered and fine, idiot. And probably has been for a few years.
Although suspicious, she didn’t release her application to the public to see if other factors were pertinent.
Sorry, but I can’t understand why someone who has or had an eating disorder chooses to compete in a beauty pageant where some women were examined for cellulite. Why encourage being judged in a swimsuit? Are these the values we wish to encourage? And then we wonder why a kid feels pressure to diet at 10.
I suppose I’ve found pageants to be a bit shallow, much like the conformation classes at a horse show.
@ Maryland. Why does my daughter figure skate, play lacrosse, and is on the dance team? Because she is recovered, just like Miss Canada. They are perfectly capable of handling these things after. Maybe not the day after, but certainly gradually and in time. Like any injury, the mind heals.
And I am glad she is doing well. But would you encourage her to compete in a beauty pageant? One that judges cellulite and is not based on accomplishment or talent? I’ll bet not, because I see you love your daughter.
Again, all the best
I believe that the adult competitions for Miss Canada and Miss Universe are based on many factors including arts, poise, and social awareness. Is there an element of beauty and body, of course, and I have no idea if they “check for cellulite.” With that, would I want my daughter to do pageants now? No, she is still a teenager, she needs more time and distance (nor do I think any teen girls should do them). Would I object in her early 20’s? Probably not, if never experiencing a relapse, she would be an adult and has gained time and even more coping skills. As to now, you don’t think there are pressures on a national school dance team? Or competitive figure skating? She handles it wonderfully and loves it.
Keep in mind, that this woman was clear, she suffered when “she was a child.” She is probably ten years removed (or more) from recovery. As to how this relates to the duties of a flight attendant I have no idea. Seems a bit of a diversion to what she is trying to do now with her life. Clearly, she won Miss Canada, whether you agree with it or not, and seems to be just fine from the experience. How does this compare to a flight attendant job with Emirates? If anything, it shows how well she has developed coping skills and is a testament to the treatments now, which are even better than when she would have gone through them.
Antwerp, my original comment was based on the ridiculous focus the media has on “appearance expectations” for young women that have not yet developed confidence. Also that pageant allows plastic surgery, for which we may as well be judging surgeons. It is unrealistic. It is my opinion this might be contributing to a rise in eating disorders. Any way I wish you and yours a good evening because my dinner is ready! ; )
@Maryland The reality is that pageants and these absurd criteria have been around for ages. The difference now is that social media has become a delivery system to younger girls in their teens to see what you speak of 24/7 so as to begin to question themselves. With that I would say that no, I am not opposed to pageants for adults as to contributing directly to eating disorders. However, I am saying that social media has clearly become the gun that delivers it in ways that is harmful to them. There is no doubt.
As to Miss Canada, I will at least give her credit for being open, coaching others, and bringing awareness within the realm of this disease. Let’s also say that given her openness about the past, she is at least encouraging young girls that you can be beautiful, win pageants, and still keep a positive mind/body connection. There is something to that. But let’s not forget that this was, in reality, about being a flight attendant. Again, this is a diversion.
@antwerp
We know nothing factual about what actually happened, other than what she said on TicToc. I have nothing against her, and I am sympathetic if true. I do suspect there is a self promoting aspect in play. That said, what I have been uncomfortable talking about is my connection to this issue. When I was 8, I was about 45 lbs, when I was 30 I was 82 ( lowest weight ) lbs at 5’4″, but healthy according to doctors. However I made an effort to put on weight for others. I wonder now, how that would be perceived, as I never have been a big eater, but I love to cook. Go figure. Sometimes we are all just different.
@ Maryland
I’d like to think I have a good sense of people, especially anything related to this subject. Given her profile (she is not some random person) I can’t imagine she is lying or even stretching the truth. Aside from the fact that she is articulate, calm and direct. As well, it unfortunately fits the profile of my own experiences with my daughter as she was denied entry into a private school a year ago that she really wanted to attend, we later found out that one of the previous school administrators had told them of her ED past. There was no reason for her not to be admitted, her testing scores were off the charts, her interviews exemplary, past history at school was to the point they wanted to move her up a grade to challenge her more, and the new school told her everything is wonderful and they want her, until they didn’t. This is a common issue, and why it is so sensitive to me.
As to your history, I believe everyone has their own comfort with food as to a mind body relationship. As long as you are healthy and happy, you are fine with what you crave and want. Anything more or less is, again, up to you. Genetics also play a role. If you have an ED, trust me, you know it. A doctor will know and tell you right away…the signs are clear in your vitals. Heart rate is the primary one. Weight is second. Interestingly enough, with our daughter, we missed the signs, because she is so athletic. Instead of not eating per se she secretly jumped on the new trend that did not involve purging. The new purging is obsessive exercising. She would go in her room and when you think she is reading or talking to friends she is doing crunches for two hours. Or walking in circles. That’s the point you know for sure. They can only hide it so long.
The good news is that it’s all treatable now and at a very successful rate. If the world begins to remove the stigma, well, that will help even more to assure these girls lead a wonderful and happy life ahead. And I believe they can and will.
@ Antwerp
The school needs a knockdown from an attorney. Full stop. This can only add to childhood stress. Probably part of the reason I may metabolize differently as academic success was important to me, and I stress over (stupid ) stuff.
As to my health now, I am in bone marrow failure as of last April, but I am old and the cancer(s) has nothing to do with weight. In fact, I found it easier to keep weight now, even though I eat less. Again go figure. Life is just weird. Get an attorney for your daughter. Night.
@Maryland Private schools are exempt. The reality is that they can do this flagrantly if they choose. There are no laws or restrictions for private schools to discriminate. Trust me. I went down this rabbit hole.
@ Antwerp
If daughter is up for it, call them out on a media post. NY Post and daily mail love these stories. And while they might be change their mind once publicly shamed, convince daughter, as much as she thinks it’s her dream school, does she want to be part of an organization that is so bias? There are always better fish if you look! God bless
Perhaps I’m being too skeptical, but something about this story seems very off. According to her bio, she has a decent degree, a fair bit of fame (obviously), owns 2 companies (one of which is a marketing company), and is the founder of the Body Love Club, which “uses social platforms, workshops, empowerment retreats, mindful movement classes, mental health walks and self defence classes to empower others” about the exact same topic highlighted here.
Now which is more likely: a) that someone with that description would want to become a flight attendant in another country, or b) that someone with that description would manufacture this whole scenario as a form of guerilla marketing?
What no one seems to be acknowledging is that flight attendants aren’t there just as with a pretty face and bubbly personality. They are responsible for the comfort and safety they of hundreds of passengers. Whether this is dealing with unruly passengers, responding appropriately to turbulence, or emergencies, perhaps someone with a history of disease that has a high possibility of relapse, which could harm one’s ability to do the above, is not the best candidate for the job.
“Speaking to my fellow male compatriots, the majority of the stigma originates from men.”
Did you ever hang around women?!?!
I interned for a brief time in the fashion industry and they let me in on some secrets including “skinny mirrors” at the stores that are like “funhouse” mirrors that make a woman think she’s skinnier when trying on the clothes. Some even buy the mirrors to try on clothes at home to feel better one designer told me. They also have different size “standards” to call a size 10 a size 7 so that a woman won’t wear a size 10 and feel bad about it. Back in the 80’s, women were cutting off toes to fit into smaller shoes and this apparently freaked out George Clooney who started out working in a shoe store.
Matt, do you even KNOW your wife’s dress and shoe sizes?!?!
It’s the opposite in that men prefer women with “hourglass” curves. Watch “The Devil Wears Prada” where Meryl Streep’s character calls Anne Hathaway’s character fat. In the film, Hathaway’s character starves herself to get to the coveted “size 0”. How many men, Matt, do you think even know what “size 0” is?!?! The reason for this is that skinny, tall models are great for draping clothes on the runway and non-chesty women don’t provide distractions.
My wife worked in a clothing store and she said it was frustrating how men who came in to buy something for their wives didn’t know their size and would try to guess based upon comparison to the women working there.
Mister Klint,
I am so hoping that you are the product of AI so that the inconsistency of this article can serve as an example to show that AI is mindless and limited by the learning algorithms and the quality of the data used as input.
Your article informs that Ms Kvaltin was set to start her employment as flight attendant for the airline and that a final step was completing a health questionnaire. Ms Kvaltin truthfully answered the questions and disclosed a previous eating disorder she experienced in her youth.
Shortly after completing the questionnaire, Ms Kvaltin was informed by the airline that the job offer was rescinded because she “didn’t meet the precondition requirements”. Since the airline did not provide additional information it is safe to conclude that the airline’s decision was based on the answers she provided. Although we cannot determine which answer resulted in the failure to meet precondition requirements, for the sake of simplicity let’s agree that it was the eating disorder. The statements so far are plausible.
After this point your article implies that she was the victim of discrimination and logic starts to be compromised. It is possible that her failure to pass the requirements was due to the pre-existing medical condition and its implications for her health insurance coverage and not the eating disorder specifically. True or not, this would be plausible denial for the airline to defend itself against charges of discrimination.
If you are in fact a human living in Los Angeles, you should be familiar with the issue of pre-existing conditions and how they are routinely used by insurance companies to deny coverage. Whether this is unjust is a separate issue which often comes up in your country of residence. One could be tempted to take a swipe at America’s health care system in the same vein that you seem to criticize UAE’s legal protections compared to Western democracies but, important as they may be, these issues are not central to the topic of your article.
You claim this matter goes beyond the legal issue and involves “moral and practical” one. You go on to mention that social media creates unrealistic expectations of the ideal physique for young people. You ponder how she would have had the time of her life as a flight attendant (contrary to many first hand accounts found in the articles, blogs and podcasts published by real flight attendants who describe their jobs as hellish) and how she might have shined as brand ambassador for the airline. You urge society to understand this illness better and warn us that letting it pass breeds acceptance of a bad policy…and ignorance.
If you are in fact a human living in Los Angeles, it may be late for you already. The righteousness of your comments would lead me to commend you for standing up for moral issues if it were not for a statement you make after listing the main points of her ordeal: “she has the face and figure for the job and she’s quite articulate” and which inadvertently betrays your own ignorance.
I have no reason to doubt that Ms Kvaltin is articulate, perhaps more so than you show in this article. The accidental implication that there is a face and figure for the job goes against what you are trying to say about unrealistic expectations about beauty and their impact on eating disorders. An attractive face and figure are not requirements to perform the job of a flight attendant. When you make that statement you are adding to the unrealistic expectations of the young people you are trying to champion and you become part of the problem.
I do not disagree with your final statement that “the toxic ignorance of concluding a past eating disorder suggests a lack of mental fitness for a cabin crew position is insanity”. Of course I do not doubt it was the eating disorder and that Emirates prefers beautiful women as brand ambassadors. However:
(1) You reach the unsupported conclusion that the airline denied Ms Kvaltin employment specifically because of the eating disorder which constitutes discrimination. Most probable but unprovable.
(2) Your argument against discrimination is undermined when you reveal yourself as part of the false expectations problem you are describing.
(3) Yes, let’s not kid ourselves, most likely the airline only considered her looks: they hired because of her looks and they rescinded the job offer out of fear she would lose her looks if she again experienced an eating disorder.
(4) I read nothing in your article to suggest the airline even considered her mental fitness for the job but I am beginning to see the insanity.
So, if you are in fact a human living in Los Angeles, I urge you to use your natural intelligence to weigh your words more carefully and make a cohesive argument. Stick to the facts and make sound conclusions otherwise, AI will easily replace you.
Come to think of it, perhaps the threat of AI taking over jobs is not that bad after all.
Could it be that you are AI?
I don’t think pointing out she is attractive and this seems to be a quality that Emirates looks for in FAs is contrary to my other point (that the discrimination on the basis of an overcome disability is valid). Of course it is not a requirement to be a good FA, but it is a requirement to be an Emirates FAs (have you flown with Emirates lately?). Discrimination is a GOOD thing and something we all do. Discrimination on the basis of physical appearance may not be ideal, but it is quite different than discrimination on the basis of overcoming a teenage illness. And yes, certain discrimination goes too far…racial, ethnic, gender, sexual orientation, etc…
Uh, Matthew – I think you are responding to AI-generated content.
I certainly think so.
When I read the title of your reply I immediately thought, “I like this guy!”; it was witty and created a bit of suspense at what was coming (Is he going to lash out?). I never had a reason to dislike you and the civility of your response speaks volumes of your character. Kudos to you, Sir.
I work as a translator and part of my work involves reviewing technical manuals for power distribution equipment. As a translator, I am always mindful of my target audience when considering the terminology and the tone of the translated document. When I review technical manuals, apart from checking for errors in translation, I have to ensure that the information for installation, maintenance, and repair procedures is clear and presented in logical steps. The potential risk of injury or death, if the instructions are not followed correctly, does not leave room for ambiguity. Writing style is important.
So no, Matthew (and Arthur), I am not AI although we may have some things in common. We both take the data provided as input and apply logic to produce output. The capacity to think, consider facts in context, and weigh the words we use to make our argument differentiates humans from AI. When output that does not follow logic and the original inputs is produced by AI, it is called a hallucination. When a human does it, it is called obfuscation and bias. None of these contribute to proper discourse in civil society and often impede arriving at a consensus of what solutions are required for its problems.
I still do not believe Ms Kvaltin serves as the poster child for discrimination and my my reply to your post was not to debate whether there was discrimination involved. There are better forums to discuss the issue of discrimination and my expertise is not in that field. A forum dedicated to the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of your worldwide travel may or may not be an effective forum to discuss discrimination, but that’s a matter for your audience to consider.
However, once you commit to discuss what you call “a moral issue”, you owe it to your audience and to those affected by this moral issue to make a solid case in a clear and logical way. Writing style is important and on this point I am binary but not AI. Perhaps I am, in fact, alien. In a world where emotions can trump logic and obfuscation can beat clear arguments, sometimes I do feel that I am alien. The rest of the time I simply wish I were.
Your post appeared in my news feed because an algorithm put it there. Increasingly, that algorithm populates my news feed with stories generated by AI. The articles behind catchy headlines often consist of banal information that provides nothing of substance except a spot to generate advertising revenue. A recent one, courtesy of MSN.com, listed tourist attractions in Ottawa and included the Food Bank as a spot tourists should not miss. “Life is difficult enough” it said, and encouraged tourists to “consider going into it on an empty stomach”.
Sometimes I click odd headlines such as “EMIRATES DECIDES MISS UNIVERSE CANADA IS NOT FIT TO FLY” to fish for unintended morsels of humour while I try to spot whether it is generated by AI. When I was reading your post I realized it was written by a human. And one with a bloody foot, once I reached the line about Miss Universe Canada having “the face and figure for the job” of flight attendant. I know what you were trying to say about the airline’s standards and its clientele but it was a careless statement nonetheless. It was humorous to watch how you managed to shoot yourself in the foot with good intentions and I wondered how your defense would impress Ms Kvaltin.
When I want to express something I care about, I don’t send it out as soon as I finish typing. I let it sit for a bit and revisit it later with fresh eyes to make sure my arguments take my audience down a clear path to the point I want to make. I check for typos and for any bullets accidentally left in the barrel before I press SEND. I noticed that in the time since 12 September when I first saw your response and today, when I had a moment to reply, your response seemed to have evolved. It no longer mentions “face, hair, and b**bs” leading up to the line that says “Discrimination on the basis of physical appearance may not be ideal, but…” Perhaps you were tired and pressed SEND in haste before you realized you were taking aim at your foot once again. Catching the unforced error is a good start; eventually you will get the hang of it and catch those unforced errors as they pop in your head or at least before they leave your screen.
May you live long and prosper.